THE COMMUNICATION AUTHORITY OF KENYA ISSUES WARNING TO COMPANIES SELLING FAKE DECODERS

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued a directive targeting fake and substandard digital TV decoders. In a notice dated Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Authority stated that the move aims to protect millions of Kenyan households from unreliable broadcasting equipment.
To uphold technical integrity, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance, the Authority has announced strict new rules requiring all Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2) receivers to adhere to these requirements before being approved for sale in the Kenyan market.
“To uphold technical integrity, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance, the Authority has published minimum technical specifications for DVB-T2 receivers, effective July 1, 2025,” read part of the notice.
The new regulations require all suppliers and vendors of digital TV receivers to obtain Type Approval before importing, selling, or distributing them in the country. These rules, effective from July 1, 2025, replace earlier specifications issued in 2012 and 2015.
According to CA, all DVB-T2 receivers—including Integrated Receiver Decoders (IRDs), TV sets with integrated IRDs, and Conditional Access Modules (CAMs)—must be Type Approved by the Authority before their importation, sale, or use in Kenya.
Additionally, the Authority stated that entities intending to import, distribute, or sell DVB-T2 receiving devices that are not yet type-approved must submit a Type Approval application, along with the required documentation as indicated on the form, to verify compliance with the new DVB-T2 technical specifications.